In the world of women's skis, the Salomon QST Lux 92 and the Atomic Maven 86 C are two top contenders for the 2023 season. Both skis are designed for all-mountain versatility, with a focus on agility, responsiveness, and performance in a variety of snow conditions. The Salomon QST Lux 92, with its poplar for flex, titanal for chatter reduction and stability, and carbon for stiffness and weight reduction, is a great choice for more experienced skiers who want to charge groomers and rip steeps. On the other hand, the Atomic Maven 86 C, with its carbon construction and blend of power and maneuverability, is a delight for intermediate skiers looking to up their game off-piste. Both skis have their strengths and are well-loved by their users, but the final verdict will depend on your personal skiing style and preferences.

Salomon QST Lux 92 Skis · Women's · 2023 summary

The Salomon QST Lux 92 Skis are a top choice for women skiers in 2023. These skis are designed with a focus on all-mountain versatility and performance in variable terrain and conditions. With a 92mm underfoot, these skis offer the most float of the skis in your offer, making them perfect for all types of terrain and snow conditions.

The QST 92 is loaded with different materials and tech for a fun ride. It has poplar for flex, titanal for chatter reduction and stability, and carbon for stiffness and weight reduction. The result is an intuitive and responsive tool to skier input. They can charge groomers and rip steeps with ease. The waist width is also wide enough to handle whatever mother nature has to offer while still being perfect for the harder pack days.

The QST 92 is a great all-mountain ski that is extremely agile and gets along really well in all types of terrain and snow conditions. It is a great ski for more experienced skiers who want a fun ride.

Atomic Maven 86 C Skis · Women's · 2023 summary

The Atomic Maven 86 C Skis are another top choice for women skiers in 2023. These skis are designed for intermediate female skiers looking to up their game off-piste, but also for more advanced skiers looking for a strong and confident ski for cruising the groomed blues and blacks of their local mountain.

The Maven 86 C utilizes carbon in the construction as opposed to metal in order to keep the ski not just lighter, but more approachable and easier to turn. This makes it a delight in both trees and while navigating moguls, and the healthy camber underfoot results in a surprisingly strong edge hold for tight turns on groomed runs.

For advanced skiers, the Maven is an awesome tool for executing tighter, more controlled turns on hardpack. This is a strong, versatile weapon in a forgiving package. With an 86mm underfoot, these skis are light, playful, and reactive, making them a great choice for skiers looking to progress their skills.

Similarities

Both the Salomon QST Lux 92 and the Atomic Maven 86 C are designed for all-mountain versatility, making them great choices for skiers who want to explore a variety of terrains and snow conditions. They both have a focus on agility and responsiveness, allowing skiers to navigate through trees, moguls, and steeps with ease.

Both skis also utilize advanced materials and technology in their construction to enhance performance. The QST Lux 92 uses poplar for flex, titanal for chatter reduction and stability, and carbon for stiffness and weight reduction. On the other hand, the Maven 86 C utilizes carbon in its construction to keep the ski light and easy to turn.

Both skis are also designed to be approachable and easy to handle, making them great choices for skiers looking to progress their skills. They both offer strong edge hold for tight turns on groomed runs, and their waist widths are wide enough to handle whatever mother nature has to offer.

Differences and Who They're Good For

While both skis are designed for all-mountain versatility, they cater to slightly different personas. The Salomon QST Lux 92 is a great choice for more experienced skiers who want a fun ride. It's loaded with different materials and tech that make it an intuitive and responsive tool to skier input. They can charge groomers and rip steeps with ease.

On the other hand, the Atomic Maven 86 C is built for intermediate female skiers looking to up their game off-piste, but also for more advanced skiers looking for a strong and confident ski for cruising the groomed blues and blacks of their local mountain. It's a strong, versatile weapon in a forgiving package that's lighter and more approachable, making it a delight in both trees and while navigating moguls.

In terms of differences, the QST Lux 92 has a wider underfoot at 92mm, offering more float, while the Maven 86 C has an underfoot of 86mm, making it lighter and more playful. The QST Lux 92 also uses a combination of poplar, titanal, and carbon in its construction, while the Maven 86 C utilizes carbon to keep the ski light and easy to turn.

Analysis on Who’s the Winner

When it comes to all-mountain versatility, both skis perform exceptionally well. However, the Salomon QST Lux 92, with its wider underfoot and combination of poplar, titanal, and carbon, might have a slight edge for more experienced skiers who want to charge groomers and rip steeps.

In terms of agility and responsiveness, both skis are designed to be intuitive and easy to handle. However, the Atomic Maven 86 C, with its carbon construction and focus on being light and easy to turn, might be a better choice for intermediate skiers looking to up their game off-piste.

When it comes to construction and technology, both skis utilize advanced materials to enhance performance. However, the Salomon QST Lux 92, with its combination of poplar for flex, titanal for chatter reduction and stability, and carbon for stiffness and weight reduction, might offer a more balanced and versatile performance.

Finally, in terms of approachability and ease of handling, both skis are designed to be easy to handle and great for skiers looking to progress their skills. However, the Atomic Maven 86 C, with its carbon construction and focus on being light and easy to turn, might be more approachable for intermediate skiers.

Conclusions

In conclusion, both the Salomon QST Lux 92 and the Atomic Maven 86 C are top choices for women skiers in 2023. They both offer all-mountain versatility, agility, and responsiveness, making them great choices for a variety of terrains and snow conditions.

The Salomon QST Lux 92, with its combination of poplar, titanal, and carbon, is a great choice for more experienced skiers who want a fun ride. On the other hand, the Atomic Maven 86 C, with its carbon construction and focus on being light and easy to turn, is a delight for intermediate skiers looking to up their game off-piste.

In the end, the final verdict will depend on your personal skiing style and preferences. Whether you're an experienced skier looking to charge groomers and rip steeps, or an intermediate skier looking to up your game off-piste, both skis have something to offer. So, get out there and hit the slopes!